Video camera recorder

ABSTRACT

A video camera recorder having a main camera body, electronic components, a cassette holder, a battery and weather cover. The main camera body has a first end that is generally cylindrical in shape. The electronic components are used for operations of the video camera and are housed in the main camera body. The cassette holder is in electrical communication with the electronic components. The battery is in electrical communication with the electronic components. The weather cover selectively covers and protects the electronic components, the cassette holder and the battery from weather. Moreover, the weather cover has a first end that is generally cylindrical in shape and a second enclosed end. The first end of the weather cover is selectively connected to the main camera body to form a weatherproof seal.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/264,587 filed Mar. 8, 1999, titled “Game Hunting Video Camera”and commonly assigned, the entire contents of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FILED OF INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a design of a video camera forrecording game hunting. More specifically it relates to a video cameradesign that is mountable on a weapon so a hunter can records what he orshe sees as he or she is hunting without the help of a third party andwithout the limitations of related art. Game hunting videos are verypopular to the sportsman, both as an instruction tool and a way ofcapturing the hunt on film.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] A motion picture camera attached to the barrel of a rife isdisclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,102 (Wade). This invention iscumbersome to use and is only designed to be attached to an elongatedbarrel of a firearm. Moreover, its use requires the operator tophysically change the structure of the firearm.

[0004] A gun mounted video camera is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,835,621 (Black). This patent discloses a device that looks like arifle but is really just a video camera recording device.

[0005] Video cameras mounted to firearms with head mounted videodisplays are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,966(Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,137 (Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,589(Hanson), 5,005,213 (Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,827 (Hanson), U.S.Pat. No. 5,711,104 (Schmitz). A similar invention is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,834,676 (Elliot). These patents relate to using a videocamera to transmit a video signal to a head mounted video display foraiming purposes and are generally designed for military or policepurposes not for recording game hunting.

[0006] The previous related art does not enable the use of a videocamera for effectively recording game hunting under the conditions agame hunter is likely to encounter. The need for a simple and efficientway to record game hunting without hindering the hunt has long beenfelt. My present invention satisfies those needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] The above-mentioned problems with video camera systems and otherproblems are addressed by the present invention and will be understoodby reading and studying the following specification.

[0008] In one embodiment, a video camera recorder is disclosed. Thevideo camera recorder includes a main camera body, electroniccomponents, a cassette holder, a battery and weather cover. The maincamera body has a first end that is generally cylindrical in shape. Theelectronic components are used for operations of the video camera andare housed in the main camera body. The cassette holder is in electricalcommunication with the electronic components. The battery is inelectrical communication with the electronic components. The weathercover selectively covers and protects the electronic components, thecassette holder and the battery from weather. Moreover, the weathercover has a first end that is generally cylindrical in shape and asecond enclosed end. The first end of the weather cover is selectivelyconnected to the main camera body to form a weatherproof seal.

[0009] In another embodiment, a video camera housing is disclosed. Thevideo housing includes a main camera body and a weather cover. The maincamera body has a first end that contains a lens and a second end. Thesecond end of the main camera body is coupled to a battery and othercomponents of a video camera. The weather cover has a first open end, asecond closed end and an internal chamber. The first open end of theweather cover is adapted to be selectively coupled to the second end ofthe main body, wherein the battery and other components of the videocamera are contained in the internal chamber of the weather cover whenthe weather cover is coupled to the second end of the main camera body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] The forgoing and other features and advantages will be apparentto those skilled in the art from the specification and the followingillustrations of the preferred embodiments in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts throughout the several views. Referring tothe drawings:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment ofthe game hunting video camera in its non-operational mode.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment ofthe game hunting video camera in its operational mode.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment of thegame hunting video camera in its operational mode.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the game huntingcamera in its operational mode.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodimentillustrating how the cassette drive and battery are accessed.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional representation of the componentsof the game hunting video camera.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the circuit that controls thevideo recorder and the liquid crystal display in the first embodiment ofthe game hunting video camera.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment of the game huntingvideo camera in its non-operation mode.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera illustrating how the LCD housing member moves.

[0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera in its operational mode.

[0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the secondembodiment of the game hunting video'camera illustrating the mechanismthat controls LCD housing member.

[0022]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the mechanism that controls themovement of the LCD housing member for the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera.

[0023]FIG. 13 is an exploded view illustrating the bracket mount system.

[0024]FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating how the video camera ismounted on a a firearm.

[0025]FIG. 15 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the components ofthe mount

[0026]FIG. 16 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the mount systemlocked in place.

[0027]FIG. 17 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the mount system beingreleased by k release buttons.

[0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the gamehunting video mounted on a barrel of a firearm.

[0029]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the gamehunting video mounted on a bow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] My first embodiment of my game hunting video camera invention, inits non-operational mode, is illustrated in FIG. 1. The video camera isshown having a main camera body 10, a camera weather cover 12, a camerabase 16, a liquid crystal display housing member 18, a liquid crystaldisplay weather shield 20, a camera mount member 14, a zoom in button 22and a zoom out button 24. The video camera in its operational mode isillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the front side of the camerabase 16. The front side of the camera base 16 contains the lense 26 ofthe camera, a circular recess portion 34, a front facing microphone 28for recording the sounds produced by the game and normally closed SPDTpush button camera record switch 30 that turns the video camera on andoff.

[0031] An liquid crystal display housing member 18 is attached by hinges11 to the camera base 16. When the video camera is in itsnon-operational transportation mode, the liquid crystal display housingmember 18 is rotated on its hinges 11 so it is in front of the camerabase 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. When the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 is in this position the normally closed camera recordswitch 30 is open and the video camera is off. The liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 is held in this position by a protrudingcircular semi pliable seal 32 that has one side solidly connected to theliquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Theother side of the circular semi pliable seal 32 is tightly received inthe circular recess 34 located in front of the camera base 16. This sealconnection not only keeps the liquid crystal display housing member 18in the non-operational position, it also protects the lense 26 when thevideo camera is turned off. This is an important feature because thevideo camera is likely to be exposed to harsh environments as a hunterpursues his or her game. My design not only protects the lense 26 fromscratches, as the hunter makes his or her way through the woods orbrush, it also protects the lense from weather conditions.

[0032] When the hunter sees game he or she simply rotates the liquidcrystal display housing member 18 about its hinges 11. This actioncloses the camera record switch 30 completing the circuit that startsthe video camera recording. The ease and speed in which the video camerais started is very important in a hunting situation because a hunter maynot have much time to react when the game is sighted. My designminimizes the time needed to get the video camera recording. Inaddition, the hinges 11 are tightly bound so that the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 is put in a position by the operator it willstay there until the operator once again acts upon it.

[0033] The back side of the camera base 16 and the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 is illustrated in FIG. 4. A rear microphone 19is placed on the back side of the camera base 16 for recording thesounds produced by the hunter. The back side of the camera base 16 alsohas a indicator light 23 that lights up when the video camera isrecording. A liquid crystal display 36 is encased in the back side ofthe liquid crystal display housing member 18. The operation controls ofthe camera are also placed in the back side of the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 around the liquid crystal display 36. Theoperating controls are common in the art of video cameras and mayinclude the following: a menu control 38, a liquid crystal displaybrightness control 39, a speaker control 40, an on/off record switch 42,a play control 44, a search control 46, a menu select dial 48, a batterycharge connect port 50, a s-video terminal 52, a audio out port 54 and avideo out port 56.

[0034] A weather shield is connected by pivots 27 on the back side ofthe liquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustrated in FIG. 4.The liquid crystal display 36 is activated when the liquid crystaldisplay weather shield 20 is rotated in an upward direction. This actioncloses the normally closed SPST push button liquid crystal. displayswitch 25 activating the liquid crystal display 36. Besides controllingthe liquid crystal display switch 25 the liquid crystal display weathershields also shields the liquid crystal display 36 from the weather. Inaddition, the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 has a liquidcrystal display weather shield tab portion 21 that protrudes out beyondthe body of the liquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustratedin FIG. 3. This tab portion allows the hunter to quickly flip the liquidcrystal display weather shield 20 up to activate the liquid crystaldisplay 36. The pivots 27 are also tightly bound so that when theoperator puts the weather shield in a position it will remain thereuntil the operator once again acts upon it.

[0035] The circuit that turns the video recorder and the liquid crystaldisplay 36 on and off is an important feature of my invention and isillustrated in FIG. 7. A simplified circuit is shown having a batterysource 60, a video recorder portion, a liquid crystal display portion, arelay 68, the camera record switch 30, the on/off record switch 42, theliquid crystal display switch 25, an upper wire 72 and a lower wire 74.The circuit is shown, having the liquid crystal display housing member18 rotated in front of, and attached to, the camera base 16.Accordingly, the normally closed camera recorder switch 30 is in itsopen position 71. The circuit is also shown having the on/off switch 42in its open position 75. If this situation occurs, the relay 68automatically acts on the on/off record switch 42 switching it to theclosed position 77. This ensures that every time the liquid crystaldisplay housing member is rotated to the camera's operational position,the camera starts recording automatically. The operator will not have towaste time manually pushing the on/off record switch 42 on the liquidcrystal display housing member 18 to get it in the right position. Whenthe camera recorder switch 30 is in its closed position 73 and theon/off record switch 42 in its closed position 77, the circuit iscomplete and the video camera starts recording. The liquid crystaldisplay 36 is turned on when the liquid crystal display switch 25 isclosed. This occurs when the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 isflipped up.

[0036] My video camera has a cylindrical weather cover 12 that screwsonto the main camera base 10. This is illustrated in FIG. 5. As theweather cover 12 is screwed onto the main camera body 10 it comes incontact with a rubber ring 41 thereby sealing the internal componentsfrom the weather. The weather cover 12 also provides easy access to thecassette holder 58 and the battery 60. The operator simply has tounscrew the weather cover 12 to put in a video cassette or replace thebattery 60. The main camera body 10 is also cylindrical in shape andhouses the main components of a standard analog or digital video camerarecorder known in the art. These components are illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0037] The second embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIG. 8.Instead of the operator manually moving the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 and the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 toactivate the video recorder and the liquid crystal display 36respectively, this embodiment uses electronic switches. FIG. 8illustrates the video camera in the non-operational mode. In addition tothe zoom in button 22 and the zoom out button 24, the main camera body10 also has an on/off button 76. When the on/off button 76 is activatedthe liquid crystal display housing member 18 slides out from the camerabase 16 as illustrated in FIG. 9. As in the first embodiment, the liquidcrystal display housing member 18 covers and protects the lense 26 whenthe camera is in its non-operational mode. When the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 is fully extended, as illustrated in FIG. 10,the camera automatically starts recording and the liquid crystal display36 is activated.

[0038] This embodiment has a remote port hookup 86 on the camera base16. A remote pad 78 having a zoom in the button 80, a zoom out button 82and an on/off button 84 can be attached to the remote port hookup 86,the remote pad 78 becomes operational. This design allows the operatorto place the camera controls in a convenient location for optimalefficiency, like the forearm 100 of a firearm or the riser 104 of a bow.

[0039] Although, there are equivalent ways, common in the art, tocontrol the movement of the liquid crystal display housing member 18, mypreferred method is illustrated in FIG. 11. The liquid crystal displayhousing motor 81 has threaded shaft 83. The liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 has an internally threaded insert 85 that isthreadably engaged with the threaded shaft 83 of the liquid crystaldisplay housing motor 81. An “H” switch circuit controls the directionthat the threaded shaft rotates. When the threaded shaft 83 rotatesclockwise the liquid crystal display housing member 18 sides into thecamera base 16. When the threaded shaft 83 rotates counter clockwise theliquid crystal display housing member 18 sides out of the camera base16. The use of this system is common in the art and an example of an “H”switch circuit can be found in U.S. Patent #4,454,454 issued toValentine entitled Mosfet “H” Switch Circuit for a DC motor. Inaddition, a block diagram of the system is illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0040] A bracket that mounts to a weapon is illustrated in FIG. 13. Theupper mount member 91 has a number of screw holes 97. The lower mountmember 92 has the same number of threaded screw holes 99. A foam rubberinsert 93 covers the inner surface of the upper mount member 91 and theinner surface of the lower mount member 92 to protect the surface ofwhat the mounting bracket is being mounted to. The bracket mounted to abarrel 98 of a firearm is illustrated in FIG. 14. The upper mount member91 is placed over the top of the barrel 98 of the firearm. The lowermount member 92 is placed under the barrel 98. The screw holes 97 in theupper mount member 91 are then lined up with the threaded screw holes 99in the lower mount member 92, securing the mounting bracket to theweapon. In addition, the thickness of the foam rubber insert 93 can bechanged to accommodate different size barrels 98.

[0041] As FIG. 14. illustrates, the video camera is attached to themounting bracket by sliding the camera mount member 14 into the track ofthe lower mount member 92. When the camera mount member 14 is positionedfar enough into the track of the lower mount member 92 it is locked intoplace. This is to ensure that the camera will not inadvertently fall offthe weapon. The mechanism that locks the camera into place isillustrated in FIG. 15, 16 & 17. A pair of biasing springs 107 areinserted into cavities 111 in the camera mount member 14. A pair offastening buttons 105 are then inserted into the cavities 111 engagingthe biasing springs 107. The fastening buttons 105 are held in place bya pair of camera mount member plates 103. The camera mount member plates103 have circular holes that allow the fastening buttons 105 to protrudethrough them from the force of the biasing spring 107. The camera mountmember plates 103 are secured by the camera mount plate screws 101 beingscrewed into the threaded holes 109 in the camera mount member 14.

[0042] A pair of release push buttons 115 are inserted into the pushbutton cavities 116 in the lower mount member 92. The release pushbuttons 115 are held in place by the mount member plates 114. The mountmember plates 114 are secured to the lower mount member 92 by the mountmember plates screws 113 being screwed into the threaded screw holes117. The mount member plates 114 have circular holes in them that arelarge enough for the fastening buttons 105 to fit through.

[0043]FIG. 16 illustrates how the camera mount member 14 locks intoplace with the lower mount member 92. As the camera mount member 14slides along the track in the lower mount member 92, the biasing springs107 assert an outward pressure on the fasting buttons 105. When thefasting buttons 105 encounter the holes in the mount member plates 114they are forced into them. This action locks the video camera on themount system. To remove the camera the operator simply presses in on therelease push buttons 115. This action forces the fastening buttons 105out of the holes in the mount member plates 114. This illustrated inFIG. 17. The camera will then slide off the mount effortlessly. Havingthis simple method of removing the camera is important to the inventionbecause it allows, without undue delay, the use of the camera without itbeing attached to a weapon.

[0044] The first embodiment of the video camera mounted to the barrel 98of a firearm is illustrated in FIG. 18. The firearm is shown having abarrel 98 and a forearm 100. One reason for the cylindrical design ofthe camera body is so it is natural for the operator to use the body ofthe video camera as he or she would the forearm 100 of the firearm. Ifthe operator does this, his or her thumb will be in a natural positionto operate the zoom in button 22 and the zoom out button 24 with littleeffort or movement. In addition, the remote pad 78 in my secondembodiment can be attached to the forearm 100 of the firearm by Velcro,or by some similar fashion, for ease of operation.

[0045] The first embodiment of my invention mounted to a bow isillustrated in FIG. 19. The bow is shown having a riser 104, a flexiblebow element 106, a cable guard 110, bow string 112, an internallythreaded metal insert 108 is shown having the counter weight bar 102threadably attached. A counter weight bar 102 is used to stabilize thebow when the bow string 112 is drawn back. The mounting bracket isattached to the counter weight bar 102 the same way it is attached tothe barrel 98 of a firearm. In addition, the thickness of the foamrubber insert 93 in the mounting bracket can be changed to accommodatethe diameter of the counter weight bar 102. Moreover, the remote pad 78in my second embodiment can be attached to the riser 104 of the bow byVelcro, or by some similar fashion, for ease of operation.

[0046] I have designed a game hunters video camera that overcomes thelimitations of a prior art. My video camera is designed for huntingsituations where the ease of the use and ability to function properlyand quickly in extreme situations and weather conditions are paramountto filming the hunting experience. Although, alternative embodiments andmodifications are contemplated, I have disclosed my preferredembodiments. In addition, changes and alterations may be made to mypreferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of and scope ofmy invention, as defined by the following claims.

1. A video camera recorder comprising: a main camera body having a firstend generally cylindrical in shape; electronic components for operationsof the video camera housed in the main camera body; a cassette holder inelectrical communication with the electronic components; a battery inelectrical communication with the electronic components; and a weathercover to selectively cover and protect the electronic components, thecassette holder and the battery from weather, the weather cover having afirst end generally cylindrical in shape and a second enclosed end, thefirst end of the weather cover is selectively connected to main camerabody to form a weather proof seal.
 2. The video camera recorder of claim1, wherein when the weather cover is not connected to the main camerabody the cassette holder and the battery can be accessed.
 3. The videocamera recorder of claim 1, further comprising: the first end of themain camera body having internal threads; and the first end of theweather cover having external threads terminating in a shoulder, theexternal threads are adapted to threadably engage the internal threadsof the first end of the main camera body.
 4. The video camera recorderof claim 3, further comprising: a rubber ring positioned adjacent theshoulder of the weather cover, wherein the rubber ring is compressed toform the weather proof seal when the external threads of the weathercover are engaged with the internal threads of the main camera body. 5.The video camera recorder of claim 1, further comprising: a first mountmember having a first mount inner surface adapted to abut a firstportion of a weapon; a second mount member having a receiving trackportion and a second mount inner surface adapted to abut a secondportion of the weapon, the first mount member is selectively coupled tothe second mount member to couple the first and second mount memberaround the first and second portions of the weapon; and a camera mountmember coupled to the main camera body having a camera mount trackportion, the receiving track portion of the second mount member isadapted to receive the camera mount track portion to selectively coupledthe main camera body to the second mount member, wherein the main camerabody is selectively coupled to the weapon.
 6. The video camera recorderof claim 5, wherein the first and second portions of the weapon areportions of a barrel of a firearm.
 7. The video camera recorder of claim5, wherein the first and second portions of the weapon are portions of acounter weight bar of a bow.
 8. The video camera recorder of claim 1,further comprising: a camera base coupled to a second end of the maincamera body; a lens received in the camera base; a display housingmember movably coupled to the camera base to selectively cover anduncover the lens; and a display received in the display housing memberto display images received by the lens.
 9. The video camera recorder ofclaim 8, wherein the display housing member is hingably coupled to thecamera base.
 10. The video camera recorder of claim 8, wherein thedisplay housing member is coupled to selectively slide into and out ofthe camera base.
 11. The video camera recorder of claim 10, furtherincluding: a motor coupled to selectively slide the display housingmember into and out of the camera base.
 12. A video camera housingcomprising: a main camera body having a first end that contains a lensand a second end, the second end of the main camera body is coupled to abattery and other components of a video camera; and a weather coverhaving a first open end, a second closed end and an internal chamber,the first open end of the weather cover is adapted to be selectivelycoupled to the second end of the main body, wherein the battery andother components of the video camera are contained in the internalchamber of the weather cover when the weather cover is coupled to thesecond end of the main camera body.
 13. The video camera housing ofclaim 12, wherein a weatherproof seal is made when the weather cover iscoupled to the main camera body thereby protecting the other componentsof the video camera.
 14. The video camera housing of claim 12, whereinthe other components of the video camera are selected from a groupconsisting of electrical components, videocassette holder and motor. 15.The video camera housing of claim 12, further comprising: the second endof the main camera body is cylindrical in shape; and the weather coveris also cylindrical in shape.
 16. The video camera housing of claim 15,further comprising: the second end of the main camera body having afirst set of threads; and the first open end of the weather cover havinga second set of threads adapted to threadably engage the first set ofthreads of the second end of the main camera body.
 17. The video camerahousing of claim 16, further comprising: a sealing ring having a firstsurface to abut a portion of the second side of the main camera body anda second surface adapted to abut a portion of the first open side of theweather cover when the weather cover is threadably engaged to the maincamera body to provide a weatherproof seal.
 18. The video camera housingof claim 12, further comprising: a display housing member movablycoupled to the main camera body to selectively cover and uncover thelens: and a display encased in one side of the display housing member todisplay images received by the lens.
 19. The video camera housing ofclaim 18, wherein the display housing member is hingably coupled to thedisplay housing member.
 20. The video camera housing of claim 18,wherein the display housing member is coupled to selectively slide outof and into a side of the main camera body proximate the first end ofthe main camera body.